“Increasingly difficult market conditions” blamed as Saddleback enters administration. Why now and what next for major UK cycling distributor?
Saddleback, the UK distributor of prestige cycling brands, has gone into administration, only months after losing Cannondale from its books.
The company, based in Yate, near Bristol, was founded in 2004 but has now closed its doors, with Jonathan Dunn and Matt Whitchurch appointed as administrators.
“Unfortunately, the business has faced increasingly difficult market conditions in recent years,” said Dunn.
According to The Times, 42 staff have been made redundant at the firm, the UK home of Pivot, Castelli, Sportful, Silca, Abbey Bike Tools, Feedback Sports and others. A source at Saddleback told BikeRadar that staff were informed of the news on Friday after efforts to refinance the company failed.
Dunn added: “Our immediate priority is supporting those employees who have been made redundant and helping them access financial support.”
What happened?
Cannondale left Saddleback in March and reverted to direct-to-dealer distribution in the UK. Our Media
Key brands in Saddleback’s portfolio had been deserting the company in recent months, with ENVE – a longstanding partner – pulling out in February and switching to UK and Ireland distribution via its own European distributor Mohawk’s. ENVE also announced it would open a UK office and showroom in Warwick.
Cannondale parted with Saddleback in March, after a shorter stint that lasted from January 2025. Saddleback had described the arrival of Cannondale as “transformative” in its accounts, with TheBusinessDesk.com reporting the brand’s signature had resulted in a £10m increase in turnover “to around £24m in the year to January 2026”.
Cannondale has now returned to direct-to-dealer sales in the UK via bike industry behemoth Pon, joining the likes of Santa Cruz and Cervélo.
Saddleback had staffed up to handle the Cannondale business but its loss, along with that of ENVE, apparently left the company with costs it couldn’t sustain on its remaining portfolio.
Cannondale’s move mirrored that of Italian brand 3T, which was also previously distributed in the UK by Saddleback, but moved to direct-to-dealer UK distribution in 2020.
What now for Saddleback’s staff and brands?
Troy Lee Designs has announced its intention to switch to Silverfish for UK distribution. Mick Kirkman
Troy Lee Designs has already announced its decision to switch to Silverfish for its UK distribution.
While an administrator was only confirmed on Monday (June 1), Saddleback’s demise had been confirmed by several employees on LinkedIn, with one stating: “I’m now looking for alternate employment following the company going into administration yesterday afternoon.”
Links to Saddleback’s site currently display an ‘opening soon’ banner page.
According to Dunn, the company’s directors had attempted to sell the business before eventually taking the decision to call in the administrators.
Saddleback’s residual portfolio of high-end brands could still be attractive to another distributor, although a buyer would need to move fast to avoid further desertions.
